IAB Affiliate Council revised Voucher Code Guidelines

[befuddle]

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I'm going to display the expiry date in a 468 width size slot where the banner could be placed.
--<br>Posted via my Mobile Device

[ash]

I agree the new guidelines are confusing to say the least.

Reading the guidelines it would appear that i fall foul of the regulations regarding removing or highlighting expired codes.

I clearly display the expiry date (where provided) for every code listed on my site(s), i also periodically remove expired codes (usually once or twice a month).

I am actually working on a modification that will hopefully ensure that my site is compliant with the new regulations but this could take some time to a) have developed and b) to update all existing codes. For the record my site is far from automated, i do not bulk import my codes from a feed....

[confuscius]

We are keen for affiliates to enter in to the spirit of these guidelines and avoid misleading anyone. Issues such as out of propotion "click here" buttons are exactly why we've agreed that expiry must be clearly stated.

Clearly, you need to define what clearly means in reality.

Clearly, it seems that the interpretation of clearly is clearly variable and is clearly inversely related to the amount of cleared commissions generated. The larger the cleared commissions then the smaller the clearly, clearly!

[Hero]

The larger the cleared commissions then the smaller the clearly, clearly!

and you base this statement on?

[confuscius]

I base this on the OBSERVATION of what is still clearly out of proportion text and image sizes, spatial colour separations to take your eyes away from the TEXT to divert them to the IMAGES, buttons with discount texts on them and not expired texts on them, graphics above the fold, text below, codes for merchant that are no longer with networks, 95%+ content is expired codes, etc, etc. So the text says expired, the graphics says available, that must be OK because there are no 'rules' on the graphics.

Why not produce some graphical representations of what is and what is not permitted to help affiliates understand better what is and what is not permitted?

[MattSweet]

I'm sure these guidelines were introduced in an attempt to stamp out unethical behaviour but unfortunatley, as with anything laid out in writing, people will look for loopholes.

There are plenty of unethical practices people could find that don't contravene these guidelines - so technically these would be okay...

However this thread now seems to be a discussion between several ethical affiliates with respectable sites that are all clear in communicating code expiry - albeit in different ways.

Maybe these guidelines need to list 3 acceptable methods of managing code expiry

1) Mark as expired after the date
2) Delete the expired code
3) Ensure a clear (bold font - at least 12pt) expiry date is shown for the code.

There may be other ways to do this but you get the idea. As code sites tend to run on different systems - automated, blog, hard coded sites etc there needs to be an acceptable solution for each main type. Then we can ensure all people are sticking to the rules one way or the other....

[John Jupp]

The code site I acquired can be automatically updated but most of the auto updates from the networks are useless for integration as they're all non standard and not uniform, so it's done manually. In the available lists of codes from the networks, too many do not have an expiry date listed.

Those that have an expiry date my system automatically removes from view. Those without an expiry date will remain in place until some kind soul comes along and updates the expiry date which I check on a weekly basis for manual adjustment.

[mattb811]

The guidelines are intended to give guidance to affiliates with voucher code sites as to how their sites should look in order to make merchants feel more comfortable in investing in this channel. Therefore I do find it disappointing that there are people who are attempting to find loopholes and not embracing the spirit of the code.

I do not want us to have to get too prescriptive in terms of what is and isn't specifically allowed, as this will evolve constantly. Rather affiliates begin to realise that misleading consumers will not be tolerated any longer.

I would recommend that anyone who is in any doubt as to whether what they are doing is permissible, please consult with a network or email us on vouchercode@iabuk.net.

Thanks,

Matt

[MattSweet]

I do not want us to have to get too prescriptive in terms of what is and isn't specifically allowed, as this will evolve constantly. Rather affiliates begin to realise that misleading consumers will not be tolerated any longer.

In an ideal world, yes. But wasn't the problem always a minority of affiliates having dubious ideas on what was misleading... There was never an issue with the majority of sites - the same guys you see on here worrying if they're now breaking some rule without realising - as they don't quite understand what that rule is in the first place.

I do applaud what is being done and agree it was a necessary step to renew merchant confidence in code sites. However, 'guidelines' are always open to conjecture and I can see debates raging until the end of time...

[dougs]

Most people seem to try to fix the issues and work in the spirit of the guidelines. Well done

Lets see what vc.com and MVC do to try and bend the guidelines, then the next IAB meeting will know what to fix in the wording.

Doug

[John Jupp]

Most people seem to try to fix the issues and work in the spirit of the guidelines. Well done

Lets see what vc.com and MVC do to try and bend the guidelines, then the next IAB meeting will know what to fix in the wording.

Doug

I think Doug that the likes of Vouchercodes and MyVoucherCodes should be the least of your worries. Just because they're easily identifiable doesn't mean they're the worst of the crop.

I think you should take a look at the number of US based coupon sites now flexing into the UK market. Not one is compliant, many are by far the worst I have come across...and I haven't even started with the US based code sites that supply toolbars telling customers to leave an affiliate or merchant site or to "Click the Flashing Icon" to instantly get a discount, overwriting previous affiliate cookies and force clicking.

You think VC and MVC are bad? Doug mate, you've led too much of a sheltered life.

[dougs]

My issue is with those 2 in the uk are they are high profile and hence the merchants look at those. If vc.com and mvc don't sort out there acts then merchants get peed off and they drop out of the space

Doug

[confuscius]

Surely, as two of the larger operators, vc and mvc are already clearly fully compliant with the IAB rules and can be used by other affiliates as a proxy for what is an acceptable layout.

[Barry]

A few UK voucher sites already have toolbars that notify users of 'discounts' on merchants - even if none are available.

Fair do's its only a forced click to their own site and nothing goes through a tracking link but when you visit a merchants url you get a little 'grab a voucher now' button (you have to engage by pressing) directing users to the voucher sites internal merchants listing/page.

Incidentally MVC seems to have abandoned their toolbar - I wonder if someone has had words already? As far as I can see MVC is a site to look at if you what to fit in with the rules. Mark has indeed changed MVC from a pure code site to a content/deal site, with tons of content/deals/write-ups that must add value to the chain.

I think the rules are working quite correctly - I have been contacted a few times asking to change certain on-page terminology - often terminology just simply there for SEO purposes rather than to try and dupe any one.

I am glad to see that there are efforts going on to try to enforce these new regulations

Ta

Baz

[dougs]

MVC are changing but only to react.\Mark you are the leader in this field, why not be the bastion of making it clean, maybe then people like Play.com may come back to talk to you

doug